Absent friends remembered

Friday, 21 December 2012 From Issue Vol. XX No. 51

Billabong Golf Group

Monday, Dec. 10, Eastern Star - Stableford

We went to Eastern Star today with 2 groups for a hit and got away well on time. Apart from some of the greens the course was in great condition. Welcome went out today to Geoff Boyle and Mark Williams.

The scores weren’t terribly great but there have to be winners and losers unfortunately. George Barrie didn’t have a partner to help so he lost his money along with me, the scribe, who putted like a drunk. The best part about the group was not one of us hit the green on any par 3s so the caddies got 100 baht each - 16 shots and no one got close!

Graham Beaumont hard at work making the Bloody Mary’s.

The winner today was Greig Ritchie again with a modest 32 points closely followed by George with 30 points. In third was Bob Pearce with 28 and it only got worse from there.

No ‘2’s so all the loot went to the winner and runner up.

Wednesday, Dec. 12, Green Valley - Stableford

Our normal trip down 36 to Green Valley today, we did get lucky again as the rain stayed away for us but it was as hot as hell so we knew there was a storm out there somewhere. Only 2 groups today and we got around in good time and had a coldies with Jeff and John at the golf centre when finished.

The winner was Bill Marsden with a fine 38 points ahead of John Ryves in second with 36. It was good to see Richard Steadman up there in the 30s as he has had a wicked run of late, and was heard to have made a statement that when he started playing golf he was on an 18 handicap. Good luck mate - obviously the lesson from John has worked.

Friday, Dec. 14, Plutaluang - Stableford

We played our annual Absent Friends Classic at the Navy course today - 12 groups playing a 4-person scramble in memory of some very good mates and some very great characters that have since passed away.

It started out with Graham Beaumont making the Bloody Mary’s at 7 a.m. and it got decidedly untidy from there. It was noted by one or two of the golfers that the Mary’s were extremely potent to say the least. 8.15 we were off to the course for our 9.36 start and everything went off like clockwork with the tees on South and East being used. There were compulsory drinks on the way around, all money raised today went to build a house for a little boy who lives just around the corner from the Billabong Golf Bar.

The starter-board displays photos of absent friends.

A huge thank you goes to Lanotec Australia, The Hard Rock Cafe and the Holiday Inn to name a few. A special thanks must also go to Richard Steadman for supplying all the ingredients for the Bloody Mary’s - 4 litre bottles of vodka plus tomato juice by the gallon, Tabasco, Lee and Perrins etc. Also money donations given to go toward prizes - thank you all for making this a truly memorable day.

After the golf was over it was back to the bar for prize giving and dinner, the pork ribs were magnificent, Bill thanks mate. Nearest the pin’s went to John Ronson (E2), Noy Kamsantia (E5), Mark Williams (S4), and Noodle Russell (S7).

The winners today were John Ryves, Jeff Ryves, Kev Watson and Mike Pleger with a net 57.8. Runners up were the team of Noodle Russell, Usa, Bob Pearce and Bob Philp with a score net 60.4 and coming in close third were the Courtyard Cowboy’s, a.k.a. Geoff Couch, Kim Payne, Danny Medds and Dave Done with a score of net 60.5.

There were prizes for everyone - bottles of wine, whiskey, shirts, hats golf towel’s - you name it. All in all a great day was had by everyone.

This article was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday December 21, 2012 (Vol. XX No. 51).